Kupang Waiting on Approval to Export Manganese Ore

Platts reported that Kupang Resources Ltd. (ASX:KPR) is waiting for the Indonesian government to allow it to start exporting manganese ore from its West Timor project. In January, a ban was put in place on ore exports with manganese content of less than 49 percent.

As quoted in the market news:

The Department of Energy and Minerals recently requested Kupang Resources to supply it with 300 kg of raw ore from its plant in Bolok for testing.

‘To our knowledge, we are the only company [that is] in the process of having [its] operation assessed to be capable of making a concentrate and hence an export product,’ [a company] spokesman said.

Unless raw ore is processed to a concentrate containing more than 49% manganese metal, it cannot be exported.

‘As our average grade in the bulk samples to date were over 55% Mn metal we believe that there will be a positive outcome and verbal indications to date have been positive,’ the spokesman said.

‘However experience in operating in the region has taught us to be cautious and await the final formal approval prior to confirming this in the market,’ he added.

Click here to read the full Platts report.